Typewriting machine



Aug. 7, 1934. A. NEMCOVSKY TYPEWRITING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 25, 1 929 Aug.'-7, 1934. 1.. A. NEMCOVSKY TYPEWRITING MACHINEFiled April 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 14v ATTORNEYS 1934. A.NEMCOVSKY I 1,969,274

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet "a 7 HI] [mu [ma INVENTOR .Doms' A. Mmcavs/ily BY 491W QMOWM ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1934. A.NEMCOVSKY 1,969,274

TYPEWRIT ING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1929 I 4Sheets-Sfieet 4 l NVENTORJLL/ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 7, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,969,274 mnwm'rmeMACHINE Louis A. Nemcovsky, New York, N. Y; assignor to PeerlessTypewriter Corporation, a. corporation of New York Application April 23,1929, Serial No. 357,388

4 Claims. (Cl. 197-25 My present invention is concerned with theprovision of a typewriting machine which will be substantially silent inoperation.

An object of the invention is to provide a 5 substantially noiselesstypewriter of the modern front strike type bar variety which includes astandard key-board and which will be rapid in action, conventional intouch and capable of distinctly printing a large number of carbon copieswith no special effort on the part of the operator.

More specifically an object is to provide a noiseless, rapid machine inwhich the depression of any key of the keyboard-is operative to causethe type of its associated type bar to be moved firmly and positively,quickly and silently against the platen in a direction substantially atright angles to the platen axis.

Such action represents a material improvement over the conventionalso-called noiseless key actions in which many of the type members strikethe platen at, an acute anglewith a resulting tendency to slide on theplaten and to produce blurred and pale carbon copies.

Another object is to provide a noiseless machine devoid of complex levertrains whereby inaccuracies in type alinement due to the wear on themanifold pivots of a complex lever train are avoided.

Another object is'to provide a system of lever trains in which thepossibility of bending or distorting any of the levers is reduced to aminimum even after a long period of use and even though the keysaredepressed with unnecessary force or unusual rapidity.

' Another object is to provide a typewriter of the class described inwhich the printing action is positively effected by key controlledmeans, and no energy-storing devices or other non- 40 positively actingmeans for forcing the type against the platen are utilized.

Another object is to provide a typewriter in which the initialadjustments at the time of the assembly operation are few and may be ex:

peditiously made, and a machine which may be quickly and convenientlyreadjusted at any time by a repair man.

Another object is to provide a machine which not only retains thestandard keyboard but in which the instrumentalities necessary forefiecting noiseless operation are mounted on the body without increasingthe size of the machine, detracting from its appearance or rendering itawkward and cumbersome to transport, manipulate, inspect or repair.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machineis of the front strike type including a standard keyboard and aconventional roller platen. The usual series of pivoted key leversmoving in parallel planes are employed. The type bars aredisposed in theusual basket frame when at rest, and operative connections are providedbetween the key levers and type bars for moving the type bars innon-parallel planes.

Preferably upon the depression of any key its associated type bar ismoved to a point where the type which it carries is disposed closelyadjacent the platen. and this type is subsequently positively pushedagainst the platen upon the continued depression of the key lever.Whipping or hammering of the type against the platen as well as' thenon-positive final movement of the type by energy storing devices isavoided. 7

Preferably the head of each type bar mounts a type carrying member whichis movable relatively to the type bar which carries it. Such typebearing members may assumemany forms and may travel in many paths intheir final printing movement against the platen, but in any event areso designed that the type is moved positively against the platen in adirection at right anglesto the platen axis.

In accordance with the preferred and illustrated embodiment of theinvention each type bearing member is in the form of a plunger guidedfor axial movement in the type bar head v and normally spring held inretracted position. The connections between the key levers and type barsare such that upon depression of a key the selected type bar is shiftedto a position where its head is arranged closely adjacent the platen andthe type carrying. plunger carried by the head is disposed at rightangles to the platen axis. Upon further depression of the key, after theselected type bar has reached such position, a pusher engages the type.bearing plunger and moves the.same against action of its retractingspring into printing engagement 0 with the paper on the platen. I Thispusher-actuated movement of the type carrying plunger is totallydistinct from the wiping action or the hammer actionemployed with theconventional typewriting machine. in the nature of a positive andcontinuous thrust from its normally inactive position to its printingposition. The plunger movement while a relatively rapid one, is not inthe nature of a hammer blow nor is it dependent in any sense The plungermovement is upon the overthrowing or wiping action of either selectedtype bar head in accordance with the a type bar or a type bar actuatingdevice. In fact, with the present construction the type bar merelyserves as a carrier to bring the movable type-bearing element intoproper position where it registers with the pusher. Thus, theeffectiveness of the printing operation is in no way dependent upon oraffected by the angles which the type bars themselves define with theplaten axis, either when the type bars are at rest or when they havemoved to a selected operative position. No matter which type bar isselected, the type plunger which it carries will always be positioned atright angles to the platen axis and the plunger means which preferablyacts upon the plungers of any selected type bar will always move thetype firmly against the platen to produce a strong, clean, rapidimpression, particularly efiective where large numbers of carbon copiesare to be made, due to the fact that no relative sliding of the type andplaten surface is present. All of the carbon copies will be clean anddistinct.

Preferably each type bar head carries two parallel plungers, lower casetype being borne by the end of one plunger and upper case type by theend of the other plunger. A feature of the invention is the novel pathof travel of the plunger-carrying type bar heads, the latter portion ofthis path being rectilinear for all angularities of the type bars andthe selection of upper or lower case type being determined by the lengthofthis final rectilinear travel of the typebar head.

Preferably each type bar is both pivotally and slidably mounted on itspivot and the operative connections between the key levers and type barsare such that the initial movement of the type bar carries the type barhead in an arcuate path-while the final movement of the type bar carriesthe head in a rectilinear path which is preferably vertical and parallelwith the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the platen roller.

-A very simple stop mechanism is utilized for determining the totaleffective throw of the type bar and consequently determining theselection of the 'lower case and upper case type which it carries. Suchstop mechanism ,is preferably in the nature of a key-selected stopdevice limiting the throw of one member of the sub-lever train whichprovides the operative connection between the key levers and type bars.

Preferably a single pusher member is employed, this pusher member actingupon any type plunger which may be alined therewith by the depression ofa selected key and acting either upon the'upper or lower plunger of theposition of the stop controlling key or capital shift-key of "thekeyboard.

The means for actuating the pusher includes a lever train, connected toa power transmitting preferably in the nature of toggle joints orsimimemberwhich preferably extends the full width of the machine and hasoperative connections with all of the key bars, such connections beinglar noise eliminating .mechanism.

Such toggles additionally provide lost motion connections between thekey levers and. the

' power transmitting element of the pusher-ac,

tuating lever train. The effect of this lost motion connection is topermitthe first portion of the key dip to be accomplished without trans-.mitting motion .to the pusher. intact, the lost 'inmotion, so that theselected type bar having reached its operative position during theinitial portion of the key dip will retain this position untilthe'pusher has been actuated to slide the selected type plunger againstthe platen.

Preferablythe sub-lever train which connects each key lever to its typebar consists of only two levers which levers both operate on stationaryfulcrums and are connected to each other by a movable fulcrum. Thus therepair of such lever train may be expeditiously effected, and there arebut a few bearings at which wear may occur. In a similar manner thelever train for actuating the pusher is of simple construction, embodiesfew parts and may be readily repaired. It will be remembered, of course,that there is only one lever train for operating the common pusher,which in itself materially simplifies the construction.

All of the moving parts of the machine are so guided and so laterallybraced that there is practically no danger of bending or twisting any ofthe levers, even though the keys be depressed with undue force andrapidity.

The particular type bar motion which. in-' volves moving the type barhead in a rectilinear 110 path at the end of its stroke permitsthepusher to be moved through only a short distance in order to effect aprinting operation, whereas the swinging of the type bar head in anarcuate path would necessitate a very long pusher movement due to thefact that the pusher would have to be placed well away from the platento provide clearance for the swinging of the type bar head.

With the above noted and other objects in view. the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described andpointed out in the claims.

The invention may be more fully understoodfrom the following descriptionin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view somewhat diagrammatic, through atypewriter machine 130 embodying the present invention. showing thenormal position of the parts when at rest.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the position of theparts when a selected key has 'been. fully depressed, the selected type135 bar swung to'operative'position and the pusher has completed itsprinting stroke.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section through the machine takenapproximately on the line Lf 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail taken approximately on the line44 of Fig. 3-and showing the manner in which the capital shift keycontrols the position of the lever train stop;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail taken ap- 145 proximately on theline 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 isa horizontal sectional detail on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, 1 have shown a frame including a back plate 10, sideplates 11 and a relatively low front plate 12 from which rises a casingmember 13, adapted to conceal the actuating lever train of the pusher.In accordance with conventional practice-the machine is preferablymounted upon cushioning feet 14 and is provided with the usual slidableand rotatable roller platen 15, the handles of which are shown at 16.The particular manner of rotatably and slidably mounting this platen,and the mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotary and slidingmovements to it are not in themselves my invention. Consequently it willbe understood that insofar as the present disclosure is concerned anyconventional platen mounting and associated mechanism may be employed.

A standard four-bank keyboard is employed in combination with the usualspacer key 17.

The keys of this keyboard-are illustrated at 18 and the associated keylevers include substantially horizontal portions 19 provided with offsetvertical ends 20 upon which the keys are mounted. To further simplifythe construction in'Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the key action of onlyone key of the upper bank.

Preferably a cross-frame member 21 disposed closely adjacent the rearframe plate 10 extends the full width of the machine and is providedwith a series of upstanding cars 22 between which the rear ends of thekey levers 19 are pivoted, as at 23. Preferably also coiled expansionsprings 24 pocketed in the frame member 21 exert an upward pressure onthe key levers near their pivoted ends and act to retain all of the keysin the normal elevated position shown in Fig. 1.

A segmental casting 25 preferably secured as by screws 26 to atransverse frame bar 27 serves to anchor and support the type bars 28 aswell as to guide the movement of these type bars to operative positionand to firmly sustain the type bars against transverse bending strainswhen in operative position.

Segment 25 at its lower forward edge is provided with a relatively deepforward arcuate extension 29 having a series of slots 30 therein, suchslots being radial relatively to the center of which the segment and areare struck and serving to accommodate the guide and laterally brace theoffset ends 31 of the type bars 28. Preferably such ends are providedwith arcuate slots 32 receiving roller pivots 33 which span slots 30whereby the offset type bar ends have a compound pivotal and slidableconnection with the pivots 33.

The type bar heads 34 are preferably of considerably greater width thanthe shanks of the type bars and maybe in the nature of skeleton framesin which a pair of plunger members or type carriers 35 and 36 aremounted for axial sliding movement in a direction'substantially at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the type bar shank. Preferably theskeleton which constitutes the type-bar head includes the spaced framebars 37 and 38- defining spaced bearings for the plungers.

Crosspins or equivalent stop members 38a extend transversely of theplungers between the frame bars 37-38 and coiled expansion springs 39encircling the plungers and confined between the frame bar 37 and thepins 38a tend to oppose movement of the plungers in a printing directionand to rapidly restore them to the position of Fig. 1 when theirprojecting rear ends have been released by the pusher.

Each plunger carries a type character 40 'on one end and has its otherend suitably shaped for engagement by the pusher member whichwill' belater described.

An arcuate guiding and bracing plate 41 fixed I to the upper forwardface of the segmental casting 25, as by a screw 42, is provided with aforwardly projecting flanged portion 43 The operative connectionsbetween the key levers and type bars include sub-lever trains composedof two sub-levers 46 and 47. Sublevers 46 are bell-cranks, theintermediate portions of whichare fulcrumed on a long cross pivot pin46a extending across notches 48 of a transverse frame bar 49. The secondsub-lever 47 is of general L-shape, the shorter vertical leg of thislever being fulcrumed on a pin 50 within a slot 51 in the under face ofa segmental frame member 52. The opposite. end of the lever 47 is.pivotally connected as at 53 to-the type bar adjacent the point wherethe shank of a type bar 28 joins the offset 54 which con nects it to theoffset end 31. One end of the bellcrank 46 is provided with a cam slotof angular formation including a straight end 55 opening sub-lever 46 bya slot and. pin connection, which may conveniently include a stud 57 onlever 46 working in a keyhole slot 58 in the lever 47.

The tail-piece 59 on the sub-lever 47 includes a shoulder 60 adapted toengage a padded stationary stop 61 on the frame 52 and includes also apair of stepped shoulders62, 63, either of which may be selectivelycaused to engage a fixed stop 64 adjustable in the flange 65' of thearcuate adjustable stop bracket 66. Movement of the lever 47 in aclockwise direction is limited by the engagement of shoulder 62 or 63,as the case may be, with the stop member 64, while movement of thislever in a counterclockwise direction is limited by the engagement ofshoulder 60 with the stop 61. It may be noted here that the stop 64, forpurposes of convenient adjustment may simply comprise a screw 67,

adjustable through the flange 66 and locked in the proper key 18 isdepressed. Upon depresj,

58 of the two sub-levers.

' 'head is caused to move through the compound path designated by theline a. in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the'first portion of this pathis arcuate and the latter portion in a substantially rectilinearvertical direction. This rectilinear movement occurs after the pivot 53has been swung into a straight line between the pivots and 33. It iscaused by the fact that the cam slot 32 is struck on a radius equal tothe distance between the fulcrum 50 and the.

pivot 53, so that the arcuate travel of the pivot 53 is compensated forby the similar arc of the cam slot 32.

By the time that the type bar has reached the vertical position of Fig.2 the stud 56a will have reached the end of the slot section 56 and willbe travelling in the slot section 55, thereby establishing the lostmotion connection between the key lever 19 and the sub-lever 46 andpermitting further depression of the key 18 without disturbing theposition of the previously set type bar or the positions of the levers46 and 47.

The portion of the key dip which occurs after the setting of the typebar and during the time that the stud 56a is riding down the slot 55, isthe portion of the key bar stroke which actuates the pusher mechanism,to slide the selected plunger 35 or 36 as the case may be into printingengagement with the platen.

The pusher includes a substantially inverted U-shaped rocking frame, thedepending leg portions vof which are pivotally secured as at 71 to theopposite side frame plates 11 of the machine. Rigidly connected with theupper ends of these arms is a cross-bar 72, the intermediate portion ofwhich is formed with a conical rearwardly facing extension 73. Suchextension is preferably bored for the reception of an adjusting screw 74which backs and sets a tapered cushioning plug 75, which in the presentinstance constitutes the pusher proper.

The actuating mechanism for rocking this pusher from the position ofFig. l to the printing plunger-actuating position of Fig. 2 includes atransverse plate 76 extending across the front portion of the machineand rockably mounted at its ends on conical studs 77 carried by screws78 which are adjustable in and out through the frame plates 11 andthrough castings 79 mounted at the inner faces of the frame plates. Thecentering conical bearings 77 are alined with the axis of rotation ofthe flat rocker plate 76, which axis is substantially adjacent theforward edge of the plate. Adjacent the rear edge of the plate alongitudinal pivot shaft 80 passes therethrough, the rocker plate havinga series of notches therein at 81, to expose the pivot shaft and permitconnection of this shaftwith all of the various key levers l9.'

The operative connections between'the key levers l9 and the shaft 80consist of pairs of toggle links 81 and 82. Link 82 is pivotally.

connected as at 83 to the key bar 19, link 81 is pivotally connected tothe shaft 80 and the two links are pivotally connected together at 84.These toggle links constitute lost motion c'onnectionswhich permit thekeys to be initially depressed to points where the type bars are '75moved to operative position and subsequently serve-as positiveconnections for rocking the plate 76 rearwardly about its pivots 77. Inadditoggle links 81' and 82 assure silent operation,

since the straightening of these toggles as the key levers pick up theplate 76 is necessarily a substantially noiseless operation.

A coiled contractile spring 85 anchored as at 86 to the forward wall ofthe casing 13 and at its other end to a lug 87 on the plate 76 tends tomaintain the plate 76 in the position of Fig. 1 and the tension of thisspring must be overcome in order to rock the plate after the toggleshave been straightened out and during the latter portion of the key dip.

Fixedly secured as by screws 88 to the upper face of the plate 76 is oneend of a crank arm 89, normally lying closely adjacent the front wall ofthe casing 13. The free end of this crank arm is connected by a shortlink 90 to the free end of a lever 91 which is fixed to a transverseshaft 92 extending across the rear upper portion of the casing 13. Alsofixed to this shaft is a depending crank arm 93 preferably mounting ananti-friction roller 94 at its free end, which roller is maintained inoperative engagement with the cross-bar 72 by a light coiled contractilespring 95 connecting the crank arm and cross-bar.

It will thus be seen that as the free end of lever 91 is drawn down bythe link 90 upon rocking of the plate 76, crank arm 93 will be movedaround the shaft 92in a clockwise direction and its roller 94 will exerta camming action on the crossbar 72 to rock the pusher frame from theposition of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2. In the course ofsuch'rocking movement the pusher plug 75 engages the rear end of thepre-selected plunger 35 or 36, as the case may be, and positively movesit axially into printing engagement with the platen.

The stop mechanism, controlled by the capital shift-key, 95, shown bestin Fig. 4, includes as above noted the arcuate stop bracket 66 with itsadjustable stop member 64. The ends of this bracket carry castings 96 ofgeneral V- shape in horizontal cross-section (Fig. 6). V-shaped notches97 in the end faces of the casting 96 cooperate with similar notches 98in rails 99 fixed by screws 100 to the side frame plates 11 toaccommodate ball bearings 101. These bearings provide an anti-frictionmounting for the forward and rearward shifting of the carriage 96 underthe influence of the capital shift-key.

The means for effecting such shifting preferably includes a key lever102 to which the shiftkey 95 is fixed. Lever 102 isconnected by asubstantially vertical link 103 with the intermediate portion of. a link104 pivoted at 105 to the side frame plate ll. The other end of the link104 is pivoted at 106 to a toggle link 107, which is one of a togglelink pair 107 and 108. Toggle link 108 has a fixed pivot at 109 on theframe plate 11 and the movable pivot between the toggle links is shownat 110. I

The intermediate portion of the link 103 is provided with a cam slotaccommodating a roller 111 on the bracket 96, this slot being operativeto shift the stop carriage or frame backwardly and forwardly.

With this end in view the cam slot includes an meagre Upon depression ofthe capital shift key 95 lever 102 acts to draw the link 103 downwardly,noiselessly breaking'the toggle links 107 and 108 and causing the roller111 to be moved forwardly by the action of the inclined slot portion114. This roller at the end of the capital shift key stroke being in theupper portion 112 of the cam slot and the stop carriage having beenshifted forwardly the stop screws 64 are set for action with theshoulder 63 instead of with the shoulder 62, whereby the type bar headwill have a longer rectilinearstroke and will bring the upper case typeplunger 36 instead of the lower case type plunger 35 into position foractuation by the pusher 75. It is believed that the operation of themachine will be fully apparent from the foregoingdescription for allordinary purposes. As is customary the capital shift key is alwaysdepressed when capital letters are to be printed prior to striking theparticular printing key for the letter.- Depression of the capital shiftkey in this case serves to slightly retract the stop frame and set thestop 64 for coaction with the shoulder 63.

As the printing key is depressed the sequence of operations is as abovedescribed, the type head being first swung in an arcuate path and thenmoved directly upwardly in a rectilinear path by its actuating sub-levertrain. The length of this rectilinear path is determined as aforesaid bythe particular position of the stop carriage and this carriage insuresalinement 'of either the upper case or lower case plungers 36 or 35 withthe pusher. The above noted operations are accomplished on the initialoperation of the printing key dip, lost motion toggle links 81' and 82preventing actuation of the pusher lever train during this time. As soonas the printing plunger is moved to printing position, the lost motionconnections of the sub-lever train come into operation so that theplunger is merely held in position while the pusher lever trainoperatesto urge the pusher against it and force it swiftly, firmly andsilently against the platen.

Upon release of the printing key spring 24 restores thekey lever trainwhile spring 85 restores the pusher lever train.

It will be evident that the type action described above not onlyeliminates the use of energy storing devices, but avoids movement of anyprinting plunger against the platen at other than a right angle. Thussliding of the type on the platen is obviated, clean sharp carbons areproduced and the undesirably noisy whipping,

action of conventional typewriting machines is avoided.

1 silent toggle links or other lost motion connections between thevarious-partaof the machine; further by the use of padded stops wheneverabutment of one part against another is neces -sary; and fourthly by alever train arrangement.

involving few pivots where wear is apt to occur and substantiallyself-sustaining against lateral vibration or hum while the machine isbeing.

operated.

The final stray sliding motion of the type plungers carries them but ashort distance be-,

fore they reach the platen, and even though the printing keys bedepressed with great rapidity the cam actuation of the pusher preventsthese plungers from being hurled or smartly struck against the platenand insures that they are latter portion of which is.rectilinear, a pairof type members mounted inthe head of each type bar, stop meansselectively controlling the total throw of the type bar whereby eithertype member may be registered with the platen, said type members beingaxially movable in the type bar head, and a pusher to axially shift theselected pushed rapidly and firmly but without sudden 'path, the firstportion of which is arcuate and I member into printing contact with theplaten.

2. In a typewriter including a platen, a key action including keylevers, and type bar's, means connecting the key levers and typebarsoperative to move the heads of the type bars to a position adjacentthe platen through a path, the latter portion of which is rectilinearand the earlier portion of which is arcuate, a pair of type membersmountedin the head ofqeach type bar, and stop means selectivelycontrolling the total throw of the type bar whereby either type membermaybe registered with the platen, the stop means including a shiftablestop member cooperating with said connecting means.

3. In a typewriter including a platen, a key action including keylevers, and type bars, connections between the key levers and type barsoperative to'move the heads of the type bars to -substantially rightangles to the axis of the platen.

4. In a typewriter including a platen, a key action including keylevers, and type bars, con- 'nections between the key levers and typebars operative to move the heads of the type bars to a position adjacentthe platen through a path, the latter portion of which is rectilinear,and the earlier portion of which is arcuate, a pair of type membersmounted in the head of each type bar,

stop means selectively controlling the totalthrow of the type barwhereby either type member may be registered with the platen, the stopmeans including a shiftable stop member lini= .-iting the throw of thekey lever and type bar connections, and a'shift key controlling the po-.

member.

LOUIS A. NEMCOVSKY.

sition of the stop

